Product Details

Bontrager BackRack Deluxe L

Bontrager's BackRack Deluxe L is made for mountain and hybrid bikes with frame sizes 18 inches and over, and road bike frames 54cm and over. This durable and light rack is perfect for turning your bike into a commuter and errand-runner. Single-bolt strut mounts allow for maximum adjustablility and ease of installation. Plus, the BackRack Deluxe boasts side rails, making it compatible with standard trunk bags and panniers as well as Bontrager's Interchange models (sold separately).

I was looking for a higher quality bike rack for my commuter bike. At first I got one from Performance that has slotted sheet metal braces that extent from the rack to the bolts on the seat tube. This is a common design that's ok for light loads, but I was looking for something better. The Performance rack didn't fit all that well and the braces extended way too far. It just looked second rate and was returned.
I stopped at my local Trek bike shop and spotted this rack. It was almost twice as much and the build quality is much better. I got it and installed it, quite easy. As a test, my son rode my mountain bike while I sat on the newly installed rack. I'm 165 pounds and the rack held up just fine. I have no double that it'll take whatever I can throw at it. It has solid mounting points for panniers and a top bag. I hauled about 40 pounds of groceries, no big deal.
The rack has a mounting point on the back for a bike light. This is an excellent feature. I bought a larger rear flashing light that permanently bolts onto the back with tamper resistant screws (Torx). I routed power wires through the tubes to join with my bike light battery. I'd rather have permanently mounted accessories to save time. The bicycle part pickers haven't been able to pluck my tail light.
Overall it's an excellent rack for commuters, long distance haulers, or anybody wanting a nice looking rack that can take a heavy load.